Building London Planning Awards
- Category: Awards
- Date Published: 28th May 2024
We are very happy to share that two of our projects have been shortlisted for the Building London Planning Awards. Willow Walk (formerly known as Osiers Road) is nominated in the category of Best New Place to Live and Threadneedle Street is running to be named the Best New Place to Work.
The Building London Planning Awards, organised by Business LDN in partnership with the Mayor of London, celebrate (for a 20th year) innovative projects that are leaders in design and sustainability across the capital.
Willow Walk provides 168 fully affordable homes sitting above of 40,000 of flexible commercial floorspace in the Wandsworth Riverside Delta. Delivering 40% of the site as public realm and 3 buildings with beautiful and pioneering facades, this scheme is an example for both co-location and high-quality affordable living. It delivers much needed housing for which there was an identified and well-documented need in Wandsworth. All of them are generous in size, with 84% dual aspect. They have generous private amenity spaces with both communal amenity and ground floor public realm for residents.
The design process took into consideration the constraints of the site, the history of the area and the mixed-use character creating a positive contribution to the immediate townscape. The osiers basket weave served as an inspiration to the architectural detailing of the exterior. As a reference to the history of the site, the weave pattern was abstracted and incorporated in the façade of specific corners and window details.
Addressing climate change was a key criterion for the development team and Osiers Road achieved high standards in sustainable design and construction and minimises carbon dioxide emissions meeting London Plan targets and local policy regarding climate change.
The development has provided photovoltaic panels in accordance with the energy hierarchy, doesn’t increase flood risk and delivers sustainable urban drainage, ecology, and urban greening benefits over the existing situation at the site. The new office space achieved BREEAM Excellent.
The retrofit of 60-62 Threadneedle Street, carried out with tenants in-situ on upper floors, focused on improving the sustainability performance of the building, extending its lifespan while integrating it harmoniously with its historic surroundings between the Bank of England and The Royal Exchange.
The existing 1970s building was home to the Royal Bank of Scotland and the composition of the facades read was very top heavy with the building base looking insubstantial with no relationship with the facade above it.
The ground floor has been redesigned taking inspiration from the Façade of Soane’s on the Bank of England. The facade now appears to carry the weight of the massing above it. Its geometry with emphasis on horizontal and vertical lines is integrated into the design of the ground elevation. An enlarged new reception, with its entrance moved to the centre bay of the Threadneedle Street façade gives the building a greater street presence. There is also a new entrance to the ground floor office on Bartholomew Lane.
New end of trip facilities are provided including showers, changing and locker facilities and a new gym encouraging sustainable commuting and occupant well-being, positively impacting community integration. The new basement reconfiguration provides 68 cycle parking spaces utilising the existing bank vaults with retained vault doors and details to provide a unique storage facility enticing more cyclists.
The interior design, artwork, and lounging areas in the reception lit by new vertically orientated large windows create a welcoming and comfortable environment. It combines the building’s rough structure with refined elements like timber joinery and terrazzo cladding prioritising sustainable design, material reuse, and occupant comfort. The new terraces allow employees an external space to take a break and enjoy the fresh air.
This retrofit has earned BREEAM Excellent and WiredScore certifications, emphasising environmental sustainability with energy-efficient systems, low-carbon technologies like heat pumps, and enhanced insulation and reglazing.
It promotes biodiversity through green roofs, terrace planters, and bird and bee boxes. The reuse of the original structure, attention to tenant needs, and durable materials ensure long-term economic sustainability. Key metrics, such as energy savings, waste reduction, and occupant satisfaction, are tracked. Upgrades include improved insulation, sealed windows, and low-carbon systems, highlighting resource efficiency by reusing materials like access floor tiles.
